The Truth About Sun Block

The Sun is life giving.  It sustains plants and animals and plays a very big role in our planet.  It is so powerful that ancient civilizations like the Egyptians worshiped the Sun God.  However, the sun can also wreak havoc on our skin.  Studies have shown that people who are more exposed to sunlight have a higher chance of developing skin related cancers.  With this in mind, how do we combat the harmful effects of overexposure to the sun?

Like most other products sun blocks and sunscreens are a dime a dozen.  There are too many products and too many varieties.  Choosing an SPF can be as time consuming as choosing one that is “water-proof”, “hypoallergenic” or even “for kids”.  Even more shocking, according to a study conducted by the Environmental Working Group, 3 out of 5 sun blocks provide inadequate protection from the sun!  Ironic, considering that people buy sunscreen for sun protection!

The same study conducted last year reports that these products contain chemicals that are potentially toxic.  When these chemicals are absorbed in our bloodstream, they have the potential to give off allergic reactions, release damaging free radicals and some may even contain hormones which can contribute to hormonal imbalance.

In order to make sure that your sunscreen is safe physically and for our environment, check the label.  Earth and people friendly sun screen should contain natural ingredients like zinc oxide that block the sun’s rays.  These products should also contain zero dyes, preservatives and fragrance.  Another helpful natural ingredient is Vitamin E and Aloe which can soothe and moisturize skin.

Lastly look for a seal from a reputable source that can certify the product’s manufacturing process.  Approval from the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) or Australian Certified Organic mean that at least 95-100% of the ingredients used come from organic and natural sources.

Remember that just because a manufacturer says that their product is “organic” or “natural” automatically means that these products contain organic materials.  Look for the seal.  Second organic sunscreen can still cause allergic reactions so again, it pays to check the label.  Check and recheck the ingredients.  If unsure, do your research on the internet!

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The fight against bad cosmetics

After the disaster with the lead laden beauty products, consumers are now more careful as to what they put on their skin and face.  It’s bad enough to have to breathe polluted air, but to pollute our bodies with the very same products that we use for hygiene seems ironic.

Sadly, while the FDA is in charge with the monitoring of all cosmetic products that have the potential to do more harm than good, the agency lacks the manpower to oversee the thousands of drugs and cosmetics that come to the market every year.  As in most cases, the FDA only bans these products after numerous consumers complain of adverse side effects.

So it is a good thing then that people are beginning to notice and take action not only to the detrimental effects the environment suffers when these harmful chemicals are manufactured but also to the effects these products have on over all health.
Think about it, how many women use lipstick?  So what happens when lipstick is tainted with lead?  Lots of women also use nail polish.  What about those nail polish brands that were found to have DBP, a known carcinogen?  How about those shampoo that have the same chemicals used for battery acid?  Some moms use these shampoos on their baby’s hair, what about them?

As the FDA closes its reigns on cosmetic companies that use harmful chemicals as binders or extenders, the fight is still far from over as these companies rationalize that even though their products contain carcinogens; their composition relative to the cosmetic is minute.

As consumers get smarter, we can only hope that cosmetic companies get smart too and offer safer, earth friendly and beauty friendly products to their loyal customers.  This is a win-win situation for both company and consumer as they both get healthier and provide safe cosmetics at the same time.
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Nanotechnology Being Used In Products Despite Toxicity To Humans And Environment

When the nano technology was first introduced in the early 1980s, most of the people were amazed by this spectacular idea. Share holders invested a lot of money in nano based industries because they knew the next growing business is nano technology.
‘Nano’ means extremely small or mathematically it means one billionth (10-9) of a meter, so Nanotechnology is that knowledge and ability that can construct potent devices by engineering a single atoms until they are molecularly sized.
After only three decades the industries working on this technology is so much enhanced that we are fascinated at how technology is advancing and how efficient we can use the resources around us to make life easier. Nanotechnology is being used every day to develop new electronics and cosmetic products. However, are we really being environmentally friendly by producing and using these products?
The more the particles become small, the more it is a threat to human defense system. Today many leading multi-national cosmetic companies are manufacturing these nano-particle contained products that can be toxic to humans and their environment. Some bizarre facts about the harmful effects of nano particles are listed below:-
1.    In 1997, an Oxford scientist discovered that nano-particles found in sunscreen created free radicals that had damaged DNA.

2.    In 2004, British scientist Vyvyan Howard published initial findings that had indicated gold nanoparticles might travel through a mother’s placenta to the fetus.

3.    In early 2002, the University of California in San Diego revealed that cadmium selenide nanoparticles, also known as quantum dots, may cause cadmium poisoning in humans.

4.    In 2002, CBEN (Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology) indicated that nanoparticles accumulated in the bodies of lab animals and fullerene could easily travel through soil and be absorbed by earthworms. This is a potential link up in the food chain to humans.

Nanotechnology may appeal as the wave of the future and advancement in skincare with the allure of warding off signs of aging but consumers must understand the damage these nano particles can do to the human body.

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Placenta: Is It Really Good for Your Skin?

Placenta usage for your skincare needs is still a debatable issue and an ongoing one. Manufacturers claim that they are as natural as it can get while critics stand firm in their belief that the product is not only unethical but poses a real health risk as well. Unfortunately, placenta creams are virtually flying off the rack these days as more and more users come out to attest to the product’s effectivity. Apparently, it also made a rift in green communities worldwide.

The main ingredient in placenta creams is of course, placenta, particularly the ones coming from cows and humans. It undergoes purification process and then extracted to be formed in creams, lotions and soaps. They are so effective they earned high praises from its loyal users. Placenta, by the way, is the lining of the womb that comes out along with your child when giving birth. In a nutshell, the placenta acts as the nutrient supplier to your developing child inside the womb. Naturally, a placenta is expected to be rich in nutrients by the time it comes out but do take note that it also acts as toxin reliever for the fetus inside since he or she is still unable to do this on his own.

Placenta is indeed natural since it is not man made but what shakes critics the most is that manufacturers claim their products to be natural when in fact, it is already processed and mixed with chemicals to stabilize the product and make it more attractive to use. Also, studies have found that placenta-based skin care products can be heavily laden with hormones triggering hormonal surge to humans making it very unsuitable for children’s use.

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Minimizing Your Cosmetic Health Risks

You and I both are aware on how intricately woven these issues pertaining to cosmetic health risks are. If we take them at face value, it is easier to see warning signs but with the constant evolution of cosmetic products, it becomes harder to distinguish the good from the bad. For me, the best way to prevent cosmetic health risks from touching our lives is to avoid using them all together. Sadly, this is something that is easier said than done. So, we resort to the next best thing, minimizing. Here are some ways to somehow lessen harmful cosmetics’ impact to our health:

·    Always read labels. This is done for you to know what things were used in manufacturing the product. Labels are required by the law so more or less, they are dependable.
·    Hypoallergenic doesn’t mean it won’t harm you. It only lessens the chance of you having a reaction to the product when applied.
·    Always do a patch test when you’re about to use a new brand/ product even if it looks harmless.
·    Cosmetics expire too. Take note of their expiration date since most of the time, they are not indicated accordingly.
·    Avoid using spray cans whenever possible. Healthcare authorities are concerned about the risk of inhaling the chemical particles when they are used by the consumers. When this happens, it may trigger a reaction within the lungs.
·    Cosmetics can be very harmful for your children too. Place it somewhere that’s not within their reach.
·    Not everything that the manufacturer claims is true. Be very weary when you hear a good sales pitch. Instead, do your own research and use your own gut-feel.

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Do Without Cosmetic Testing on Animals

In an effort to bring cosmetic products that are safe for humans, animals suffered tremendously worldwide. These animals were killed, mutilated and tortured just to make sure that your cosmetic needs are met accordingly. But, seriously, can we afford such cruelty?

Every year, animals are bought in batches by cosmetic companies and taken into testing sites. From then on they will be the main objects for measuring levels of toxicity, skin irritation and eye tissue damage in which the key ingredients may incur. These are very painful procedure and some of these animals actually die during the process itself—if they do, lucky for them, their bodies will just be thrown out back to the wild but those who unfortunately, survived these experimentations are left to live with the damages for the rest of their lives. These tests are simply inhumane, not to mention, they could never be accurate since these laboratories are not testing a human reaction, only that of an animal. In short, animal experimentations are not essential to cosmetic products since they can still cause adverse reaction when applied to human skin.

Organizations for animal rights never said that the war against cosmetic testing would be easy; especially when cosmetic companies find it easier to butcher these animals than seek other testing alternatives that won’t use live ones. Aside from the cosmetic products we apply directly to our skins, these animals are used for testing household cleaning agents as well. Just imagine what these animals would have to go through just to ensure that these products are safe for us to use. On the other hand, animal rights activists strongly recommend banning those companies who still practice these procedures and go for organic and natural products instead since these products don’t need to be tested anymore.

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Sunscreens, Cancer in a Bottle?

Most people use sunscreens to avoid the harmful effects of the sun on the skin.  Indeed prolonged sun exposure can actually induce the early appearance of freckles and wrinkles.  But a study published in the British Medical Journal reports that sunbathers who use sunscreens with higher SPF have a higher risk of developing skin cancers.  This is because a chemical called Oxybenzone which is a standard ingredient in high SPF sunscreens can cause more harm than good.

Oxybenzone’s job is to filter ultra violet light on the surface of the skin, converting it from light to heat.  Once heat is absorbed in the skin, it has the potential to damage cells.  Once light is converted into heat, it can cause basal damage to growing cells which causes malignancy in growth and cause cancer.  Scientists at the Memorial Sloan Cancer Center in New York say that sunscreens are very effective in preventing sunburns and cancers like Carcinoma but not against Melanoma.

PABA or para-benzoic amino acid which works in the same way as Oxybenzone also has similar effects.  For sunbathers and sun worshipers it would probably be better to use the old and tried tested method of applying tin oxide which reflects the sun’s rays rather than absorbing it.  It is also widely used in wound dressings and is safe.  Calamine lotion which has a Zinc oxide base is colored pink and washes off easily can also be used as a substitute for PABA or Oxybenzone based sunscreens.

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Collagen in Cosmetics, A Scam??

Collagen is one of this century’s cosmetic hits.  Most cosmetics with collagen as an ingredient tout their products for making the skin smoother, healthier and more supple.  But the sad fact is, collagen is an insoluble fibrous protein.  This means that no matter how it is applied, it is too big a molecule for the skin to absorb.  Which further means that the collagen in your lotion, toner, shampoo or conditioner is just for “advertising” purposes and has no effect on the body at all.

Collagen is a natural substance found in humans.  It is the “glue” which holds our muscles, tissues, organs and bones together.  Without collagen, our bodies would literally fall apart.  But another gross fact about collagen in cosmetics is that it is derived from animal skins our ground up chicken feet!!!  Collagen from these sources too cannot be “rebuilt” in order for our skin to absorb.

When applied to the skin, collagen forms a layer which may disrupt oxygen transport which can suffocate the skin.  It can also cause blocked pores which can result to bad acne breakouts and rashes.  When ingested collagen is poisonous and can cause serious health effects.

Collagen and another similar compound called Elastin is also a common ingredient in cosmetics.  It has a similar effect to collagen and is as damaging to the body.  The sad truth is that, cosmetic companies manufacture products with collagen and elastin and advertise these products as healthy, when in fact these ingredients only add on to the price with no positive physical effects on the skin and body whatsoever.

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Shampoo Contains Toxic Chemicals

Researchers from the National Institute of Health have found out that the chemical MIT or methylisothiazoline which are commonly used in shampoos and conditioners can cause nerve damage to animals likewise to humans.

The experiment was conducted on laboratory mice.  The brain of the mice showed nerve damage after contact with MIT.  Scientists and researchers have found MIT in popular shampoo brands like Pantene, Head and Shoulders, Clairol and Suave.  They are cautioning pregnant women since exposure to the chemical can also cause damage to the fetus.

Studies have shown that MIT is linked to Alzheimer’s disease and other central nervous disorders.  MIT causes the slowing down of the nerve’s response time preventing communication between the neurons.  Since our central nervous system which is comprised of neurons, brain function and networking signals can become suppressed with over exposure to MIT.

However, people are wondering why these products are still seen and patronized in grocery shops across the nation.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which oversees such testing spends majority of its time approving drugs and medicine and not enough time looking into the harmful effects of shampoos and conditioners containing MIT and allowing them to stay on supermarket shelves everywhere.

Before purchasing any brand of shampoo, conditioner or any personal care product, know what is inside the bottle.  The FDA’s website is actually awash with chemicals and guidelines on which chemicals are classified as toxic and safe.  Since the FDA is doing only half its job, then make the right choice and make sure that the product you are using is healthy and safe.

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Gluten Free Cosmetics

Living life with Celiac disease or gluten allergy could be quite challenging to people who suffer from either sensitivity.  First there are restrictions to diet which entail avoiding or limiting the intake of gluten rich foods such as wheat, rye, oats and barley.  Then there is the search for cosmetics which are gluten free.

Gluten is used in cosmetics and personal care products in order to bind the ingredients together and is used as an emollient in the form of gluten derived oils.  Most cosmetic manufacturers would say that the amount of gluten is so minuscule to become a health risk factor, to a person who suffers from the disease or allergy, a little can cause a lot of discomfort.

People who have celiac disease or gluten allergy live in a gluten free world.  They chose cosmetics which have not been derived from materials which contain gluten.

There are actually a lot of cosmetics which do not contain gluten.  There are gluten free lipsticks, moisturizers, lotions, hair spray, shampoo and a host of other personal care products.

People who have celiac disease or gluten allergy should choose products which are gluten free especially those applied close to their lips and above their chin.  Even though absorption of gluten through cosmetics and personal care products may be minimal, it would be better to avoid these altogether as our skin is our biggest organ.

There are also a lot of gluten free resources available on the internet.  The FDA has yet to approve mandatory labeling of cosmetic products as gluten free.  So before trying on or buying a product, consult the internet resource pages and websites on gluten free cosmetics.

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